Line-space lock and release.



THORAP.

H. A. U51

LINE SPACE LUC i AND RELEASE APPLiCATION FILED DEC. I4, 19M.

1111181111111 Aug. 14, 11117..

AWSAQQ,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

llllllllllllllllllllllllll Illllll ,HvAI FOOTHURAP. LINE SPACE LOCK AND RELEASE.

APPLICATION man DEc.14. 1914.

Patented Aug. 14, 191i.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

j 'sans Artnr nieren.

HARRY ARTHUR rooTHoRAP, or nARRisRuRG, r-aNNsrsrLvANIA,` AsseNoRTo ELLIOTT-FISHER oor/IPANY, or HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

LINE-SPACE Loon` AND RELEASE.

'rase/rae..

Specification of Letters Patent. l Pagqgmted ug, 1ML, 191V Application ined neeeniber 14,1914.l seriaiNo. 877,215.

To ail-Z wwr/tt may concern: .A

,Be it known that I, HARRY ARTHUR Foo- '.rrronAr, a citizen of the United States of i America,. residing at Harrisburg, ,in the lcounty of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, lhave invented certainnew and usefulV Improvements in Line-Space Locks land Releases, of whichvthe following is a speciication.

.This invention relates to typewriting ma- -chines and more'particularly to a line space brake and controlling means-therefor.

The/object of the invention is to provide that element of the typewriter which is moved for line spacinggwith a brake which,I

y when in action, resists the tendency of the line-space element to overrun and hold said element securely in position during the writ.-

ing operation, but which may be rendered ineffective so as to leave the line space element unretarded and free tobe moved easily and quicklyiany distance desired.-

In the accompanying dra-wings Elliott-Fisher billing` machineor flat platen typewriter as' -is necessary to illustrate the I4o' i i In the type of machine with which this invention is more particularly concerned, the

' structure shown in Fig. 2'.

I ap lication of my invention,

1g.2 is a rearelevation ofthe line space brake and associated parts,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the Fig. et is a lsideelevation AoJthe brake and most of the'controllingIneclfianism-V L I ing movement ofthe frame 2. A s is coin- Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the brake the/shoes.l

Fig. 6 is the shoe carrier removed, land Fig. 7 is ajperspective view 'of 'the two brake shoes.

work sheets or elements' are sustained by a flat platen associated with Which is a track frame indicated by l inFg. 1. Upon this track 'frame is supported 'to move vfreely,` longitudinally of the platen, the main ma;

chine frame or line space frame 2 compris- I' .fing frontend rear bars and 4 and side or end bars 5 and. The several frame bars are united to orm an open oblong vframe at the rear-corners. of'which are xed the two combinationbrackets 7 and 8 which serve to 4snp-A porta number of the adjunctive mechanisms of the typewriter yincluding Athe maj or portlon an Velevation of' theA brake with of the mechanism with Iwhich We are concerned. Extending parallel to the rear frame bar 4 and al'orded bearings in the which are fixed the rear rollers 10 of the line space frame 2 andthe two line space pinions ll. The rollers l0 serve in convbrackets 7 and 8 is a line space shaft 9 upon junction with` the front rollers l0a to supi' track frame so thatwhen thesh'aft 9 is ro'- tated bythe' line spacing mechanism, the line space'frame willbe 'moved with-cer tainty and accuracy' the distance of the line space interval.

We are'Y not concerned with the linespace mechanism except as 1t mayenter into .com-

i bination withthe line space brake and the controlling elements of the latter. The jline space mechanism, here shown, is" described 4 and claimed in my accompanying applica` Figure 1 is a vplanviewofso-much of an tion for Letters Patent, No. 877,214: Suffice it to say that the line spacing mechanism includes a line space handle yor key 13 located at vthe front right hand `corner of the. line space frame and connected throughintermon with line spacing-mechanisms, the driving elements thereof, except when in operation, are independent of the line space element, in this case the shaft v9, so that inthe normal position of the-line space handle or key 13,-the driving elements of the line spac- ,ing mechanism are independent-of the line .space shaftl and oppose no obstruction to the movement thereof. For convenience, in referring to the line spacing mechanism, the4 same is indicated generally by 16.

IVe come now to a description-of the mech,- anism which is the primary subject-matter of this application. It may be Well to state, however, by way of premise, that the proper control of the line space frame in its movement on the track frame has long'been one of theveXatious problems in connection with typewriters of the flat platen class. This is for the reason that, whileit is desirable to have the line sp ce frame move freely and lightly both'in its line space advance and in lits more eXtensive movement back and forth over the platen, it is absolutely necessary `that when once positioned the frame shall be ing of the line space frame and the print-- ing mechanism mounted thereon has been so manifest and `controlling that the only machines now marketed, except the one here shown, forego the advantages of a light running roller mounting' for the line space frame, in order to make use of the friction between the frame and its support to hold the machine rigid after it is once positioned. I am advised that attempts have been made to render possible the use of rollerbearings for the line space frame by providing a positive lock forthe frame, the lock being in the form of a toothed locking dog arranged to engage a stationary rack. This arrangey nient, however, is open to two very serious objections, first, that 1f,.1n the rapid manipulation of the machine, the lock is pre' 'frame is in position to present the' locking elements in proper position to engage each y other.

I will now proceed to describe a mechanism whereby a roller mounted, freely movable line space carriage may be securely and accurately held whenY once positioned by holding or retarding'meansI operative uni-v versally at any point in the movement of vthe frame and including an organization of elements which, rhile constituting an efliycient line space lock under all proper conditions,'will yield when subjected to undue strain and thus avoid the possibility of' To the endy of the shaft 9 adjacent to the bracketv7 is fixed, as by a set screw .17, a

shoe carrier 18 which closes the outer openl side ofl a braken drum 19 loosely mounted on the shaft 9 to permit independent rotationthereof. Within the brake drum 19 are housed two substantially semi-circular brake 21 extended 'into thebrake drum from the and guide the spring 23.

l shoe carrier 18 at one side of the axis thereA of and engaging notches 22 in the opposed end faces of the shoes. The shoes 20 are urged apart and into engagement with the drum 19 by a spring 23 interposed between a pair of anges 24 bent back from the bottom walls of the respective shoes and having studs 25 which extend into and serve to hold urges the shoes 20 apart and into frictional engagement withthe rim of the drum 19. This frictional engagement unites the drum 19 and the shoe carrier 18 in a single o rganization which rotates with-the shaft'9 without opposing any resistance whatever to suchrotation. If, however, the drum 19 is held stationary, the frictional contact be tween it and the shoes20, as the carrier and shaft 9 ro ate', serves to brake or retard the movemen of the shaftand in effect lock the same against such accidental movement as would dislocatethe line space frame with respect to the proper' printing point'. b-

viously,- therefore,v the control of they line space lock or brake may-be effected by providing means for holding the brake drum 19 stationary or releasing the same 'to permit its rotation with the shaft `9. The controlling mechanism therefor `includes a locking dog 26 mounted to swing from a ful# crum screw 27 screwed into anextension 28 ofthe bracket 7. Thedog 26 is toothed or knurled to`provid`e for its positiveinterlocking engagement with theknurled 'periphery 29 of the drum 19. Adjacent to its free end the dog l26 is engaged by a pin 30 extended -to form aneccentric with respect to 'the adicaV the bail 32 so that the pin 30 WillhOld the drum 19 thus renderingl the lockl orbrake normally effective `to oppose the rotationof the line space shaft 9.

Ylocking dog 36 in engagement with the The locked or .effective conditionof `the line `space lock or brakebeing the normal condition,.it is only necessary toprov'ide the f machine with. a line space lock release which may be manipulated by'the operator to render the line space brake. ineffective Awhen it is desired to move the line space. frame freely back `and forth-on the vtrack frame. The primary 'element ofthe line space lock releasing mechanism isaline space lock release key 37 located at the front left hand corner of the 'carriage C- which, as already j stated, travels on-the line space frame 2 and carries the printing mechanism,l not shown.

The release key 37 carried by the frontl end of a linespace release lever 38 fulcrumed on a .stationary shaft or. rod 39 which eXtends across the carriage and has a set collar 40 to retain the lever`38'in place ,y adjacent to one side or end wall ofthe carriage C. From the rear end of the lever 38 fis dropped a link 41 attached a`t its lower end to an arm 42, adjustably ixedto a rock shaft 43 as by, a set screw 44. The shaft 43 is afforded bearings in brackets 45 and v46."

The shaft 43 terminates practically midway of the carriage and has a bail depressing pressing arm 47 of the line space release mechanism `will be in coperative relation' with the/bail. rlfherefore,lthe Vdepression of the line space release key 37 Vat any time4 willrock the shaft, 43 and depress the bail 42 to lift the locking dog 26 and thus release the brakedrum 19 so that the latter will rotate with instead of opposing resistance to the line space shaft 9.

v4Normally the line space frame 2 is locked on its supportand is held rigidly in place Vduring the printing operation because the line space shaft 9/is/geared to the track frame by the linespace gears 11 and is held against\\rodtat,ion by the brake fshoes 20 mounted tomove vwith the shaft 9 and gripping the drum 19 vheld stationary by the dog 26. There is, therefore, no danger of any accidental movement or creepingof the line spaceframe during the printingopera-` tion, notwithstanding the fact that there 1s' a practical frictionless bearing between the linevspace frame and -the track frame afforded by the front and rear supporting rollers-lOi and 10-of the machine. 4

When it is desired to line space the machine, it is simplynecessary to depress lthe line space key or handle 13 when, as usual in the art, the line space shaft 9 will be given a partial rotation. If desired, the line space release key 37 may be depressed so as .to render the line space lock or brake ineffective during the line space operation. That, however, is not the contemplated mode of operation, since'it is preferable to have the operation of the line spacing-operation resisted by the line space brake. This is' for the reason that in the spacing of a light running frame, such as that here shown, there will perhaps be a tendency to overrun, which tendency is not manifest when the line spacing operation is opposed bythe brake. The operationof the line spacing mechanism is not rendered laborious by the resistance opposed thereto by the brake. In

fact, the resistance opposed to the operation 'the rotation of the of the line spacing l'mechanism by the roller mounted frame, here shown, `plus the friction of the line space brake is materially less than the resistance opposed to Ithe line spacfing mechanism by the usual4 sliding line spaceframe of this classof machine.

If however, it is desired to move the machine freely back and forth on the track frame, the operator depresses the line space release key;37 which, in' the manner hereto- 'fore described,V renders theline space brake ineffective -and permits the' light running frame 2 to be moved rapidly back and forthV over the platen. Should the operator release the key 37 while the frame 2 is-in rapid motion, the lock orV brake will be ythrown into action but no breakage or derangement of the parts can result because,' before a breaking strain is brought to bear u onan'y element of the mechanism, Vthe b ake shoes 20'will rotate within the drum 19 and thus apply a yielding resistance to Ishaft 9 until the frame is brought to rest.

y It is thought that from the foregoing the construction and operation of my line space locking or breaking mechanismV and the manner `of its combination with the line space frame and the line spacing mechanism will befully understood but I reserve the 'right to effect such variations of the illustrated structurek as may come fairly within the lscope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is v 1. The combination with a support and a linespace frame movable thereon, of line spacing mechanism and a linespace brake both movable with the frame, a carriage movable onthe frame, and brake controlling means mounted in part on the carriage.

ica

2. The combination with a support and a4 p line space frame movable thereon, of line spacing Vmechanism, aline space brake, a carriage movableon the line space frame,. and brake controlling means carried in part by and operative in any position of the carriage. p y 4 3. `The combination with a support and a line space frame, of a carriage movable on the frame, a brake yieldingly opposing the movement of the'frame, and brake controllingmeans including a key mounted on and movable withthe. carriage.

4. Thel combination with -a support and a line space frame, of a brake yieldingly op-A posing the movement ofthe frame, a carriage mounted on the frame, a key movable with the carriage, and connections between the key and 'the brake whereby the brake maybe controlled bv the manipulation of the key in any position of the carriage on the frame.

`5. The combination with a line space frame, of a brake yieldingly opposing the movement. thereof, a carriage movable on ila ves

the frame, and controlling means for the brake,'said controlling means including an .element disposed parallel with the carriage travel, and an operating device mounted on the carriage 'and coperati-vely related to said Aelement in all positions of the carriage.A

- 6. The combination witha support, a line space frame. movable thereon and a carriage movable on the line space frame, of line spacing mechanism fory advancing theline space frame on its support.a line space brake normally opposing yielding resistance to the movement of the-lin'espace frame,

brake controlling means, said controlling'l means including a bail carried bysthe line space frame, anda bail 'operating device mounted on the carriage andmovable along the bail to maintain `a coperative relation 8. The combination .with ,a line space' frame, of a line space shaft, fa shoe carrier movable with the shaft, brake shoes mounted on the carrier, a brake drum engaged by the shoes, and a locking dog movable 1nto and out -of locking relation with the brake y drum.

9. The combination with a line space' frame, of a line space shaft a brake associated with the shaft and Vincluding a drum,

y a holding 'dog for the drum, and a key forl operating the dog.

10. The combination with a line space I frame anda carriage movable thereon, ofa

line space shaft associated with the frame, a line space brake associated with the shaft and including a brake drum,` a dog movable into and out,v of engagement with the drum,

la bail arranged to operate thepdog and disposed parallel tothe carriage travel, a rock shaft mounted on the carriage and operatively relatedbto thebai-l in all positions ofv :said carriage,'and a key vfor operating the Arock shaftlA Il.; The combinationwith a' line spaceframe, of a 'line space 'brake mounted in lrear thereof, acarriage movable on= the frame, and controlling means for the brake,

- said controlling means including a keylocated on the carriage at'the front thereof;

12. The combination y with a line,l space frame,-of a line space shaft mounted in rear thereof, line spacing mechanism and a line space brake associated with opposite ends of the. line space shaft, brake controlling means including 'a bail 4disposed parallel with the line spaced shaft, a carriagev mounted to travel onthe line space frame, a

. key mounted on the carriage, and an actuat. ing device movable along the bail 'with the carriage and arranged to be operated'bythey key to swing the bail.

13'.A line space brake comprising a disk, a pair ofV arcuate shoes,V a fulcrum4 pin' 55X;4 tended from the disk .and affording a ful- .crum for theshoes, a spring interposed be-v tweenthe shoes to urge theysame i'n opposite direct1onsa brake drum inclosing and engaged by the shoes, and -a holding device movable into and out of engagement with the drum.

14..'1`hecombination with a line spacey frame and a carriage movable thereon, o`f a line space brake including frictionally engaging parts opposing themovement of the a line space release key mounted on and line space frame, means for normally holdf4 ing one ofl said parts relatively stationary movable withthe carriage 'and means operated by said key from releasing the normally stationary p'art of the brake.

In testimony whereof I aixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY ARTHUR FooTHo'R'AP. a'

Witnessesz W. J'. EVERT, EDWIN Fnoim. I 

